Computing as a Language Skill and a Language Learning Tool
Wayne He, 何文潮
Associate Professor of Chinese
US
Language skill refers to the ability of using a language. Traditionally we talk about four language skills, listening, speaking, reading and writing. Among them, listening and reading receive information, and speaking and writing produce. In the era of modern technology, I hold the view that computing can be treated as a language skill in addition to language learning tool.
As a language skill, computing can be used for the same written communication purpose as hand writing Chinese. Hand-wring includes how to write characters and compose a written text. Computing Chinese includes keyboarding and composing a written text.
But computing is much easier to reproduce Chinese characters and editing. Handwriting Chinese takes years and years of practice, but learners still cannot function with this skill in work. Comparing the two skills, computing is a language skill just like writing. Students of Chinese should first develop computing skill to reproduce written text. When they possess the linguistic ability to deal with handwriting character after a period of learning, they can learn how to write by hand.
As a language learning tool, computing plays an important role in foreign language learning, such as “writing” Chinese as mentioned above, as well as assisting learning and practicing Chinese listening, speaking and reading skills. It can build up communication network. Users can talk to each other, write to each other, find language partners on line, and visiting language learning sites through internet. Computing provide unlimited convenience in learning Chinese and developing the language proficiency. But we need to know the available resources and how to use them.
This presentation will discuss functions of computing as a language skill in Chinese, providing examples from Chinese for Tomorrow to show how to develop the skill in the process of learning Chinese. The paper will also demonstrate some practical and engaging ways of using computer as a learning tool. It will list available internet and other computing resources, and make suggestions on how to use them.